PFL 1: Dakota Ditcheva opens 2024 account with brilliant stoppage win over Lisa Mauldin

Dakota Ditcheva picked up her ninth stoppage win

British flyweight Dakota Ditcheva started her 2024 Professional Fighters League season with a sensational win over Lisa Mauldin in Texas on Thursday.

The 25-year-old extended her unbeaten record to 11-0, dismantling Mauldin in one round.

Mauldin, 33, crumbled under Ditcheva's mix of strikes to the body and head.

While Ditcheva shone bright, there was bad news for Londoner Linton Vassell who was stopped by Denis Goltsov in their heavyweight contest.

Ditcheva was making her debut in the PFL American season, having won PFL Europe last year.

The Manchester native collected £79,000 in the process and was immediately upgraded to the PFL's American season, which carries a $1m (£800,000) prize as well as a world title.

Ditcheva dominated the first four minutes of the opening round as Mauldin struggled to defend from her varied striking ability.

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Ditcheva landed a stinging straight right, left combination to the body of Mauldin before dropping her with a powerful knee.

The American was able to get back up, but returned to the canvas soon after another well-placed kick to the body from Ditcheva.

The referee stepped in to stop the contest, handing Ditcheva six points thanks to the first-round finish.

Ditcheva aims to qualify for the semi-finals later this year, before the finals at the end of 2024.

For Vassell, 40, it was a miserable beginning to his PFL career as he ran out of gas against Russia's Goltsov.

Vassell was on a five-fight winning streak coming into the bout

Vassell was on top in the first round, landing a double leg takedown on Goltsov before eventually working his way into full mount and raining down punches.

A finish appeared close, but Goltsov was remarkably able to reverse the position and save himself.

Goltsov came out strong in the second and the fight went into the final round tied one round apiece.

But exhaustion had clearly set in for Vassell, who gave up an easy takedown before spending three minutes taking damage in a defensive position.

Vassell was hardly defending himself, giving the referee no other option but to stop the fight.